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Aprobable Case of Twins in the Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus Aculeatus (Tachyglossidae: Monotremata), with Observations on Suckling of Young After Their Emergence from the Nursery Burrow

2007; Field Naturalists Club of Victoria; Volume: 124; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

2208-6277

Frank Nelson. Pierce, Janet Mattiske, Peter Menkhorst,

Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior

Abstract The finding of the nursery burrow of a Short-beaked Echidna close to the house of the two senior authors allowed close observation and monitoring of breeding behaviour. Two young emerged from the nursery burrow eight days apart. Individual colour-marking of the mother and both young allowed their movements and behaviour to be monitored over subsequent months. Data are presented on post-emergence suckling of both young, which continued for 60 days after emergence, and included one instance when both were suckled simultaneously. Information is also presented on the movements, survival, and selection of shelter-sites by the juveniles. The two juveniles are likely to be twins, though they are not identical twins. These observations provide the first record of a female echidna successfully raising more than one young in a single breeding season, and the first records of parental care of young echidnas after they have vacated the nursery burrow.